Autism and old people

Saying goodbye with some anguish and melancholy.

I launched in my micro possibilities a campaign on various sites in favor of some form of assistance for old age aspies .      Many of them have never been diagnosed, many of them don’t even know of the origins of their suffering. If they are so called high functioning, they may have thought, before the revelation, that they were “normal” people even as they had to go through an enormous amount of effort, and a constant feeling that there was something wrong, some sort of self deception and falsity in what they did, in their job and family life, if they had one, which rarely happens. They are normally single and loners. Fatigue was not a help in their  perception of their efforts. In a sense old aspies are left to manage their own winter by themselves. Wisdom is nowadays not commodity requested by society.

 Dependence is an act of begging, which not many can rely on for their insularity. At a certain age they normally have no more families or relatives. “Friends”, or, better, acquaintances disappear. An old aspie cannot protect anybody, and cannot receive protection. Are severe autistics in better condition? Donna Williams maintains that they are less desperate. I don’t know.

A blind, a deaf mute, a limp receive some assistance, if anything by the social services. Aspies are invisible.

 

Parents
  • Abloner is making a very good point. If your aspergers hasn't necessitated seeking direct intervention, there is very little you can do to get help. If you are identified as having aspergers and either receiving treatment or financial help, there is a support structure in place. If you haven't had to instigate a need for intervention, there is absolutely no help available. I am 61 and retired. I am quite able to look after myself. However some things cause difficulty. Getting in workmen is immensely difficult, as I do not comprehend their banter and informality, and my awkwardness is picked up as we can take advantage of this old duffer. If I need help with things it is difficult to ask. Given I look able enough, asking for help people would normally offer someone less able isn't easy. 

    No-one seems to have looked at old age and autism EXCEPT in the sense of people needing or already receiving long term help. Those managing fine most of the time have no recourse to help, without having to go through a long process of making a case, where it might be deemed they appear well eniough to manage their own affairs. The difficulties people face on the spectrum growing older just aren't sufficiently understood.

Reply
  • Abloner is making a very good point. If your aspergers hasn't necessitated seeking direct intervention, there is very little you can do to get help. If you are identified as having aspergers and either receiving treatment or financial help, there is a support structure in place. If you haven't had to instigate a need for intervention, there is absolutely no help available. I am 61 and retired. I am quite able to look after myself. However some things cause difficulty. Getting in workmen is immensely difficult, as I do not comprehend their banter and informality, and my awkwardness is picked up as we can take advantage of this old duffer. If I need help with things it is difficult to ask. Given I look able enough, asking for help people would normally offer someone less able isn't easy. 

    No-one seems to have looked at old age and autism EXCEPT in the sense of people needing or already receiving long term help. Those managing fine most of the time have no recourse to help, without having to go through a long process of making a case, where it might be deemed they appear well eniough to manage their own affairs. The difficulties people face on the spectrum growing older just aren't sufficiently understood.

Children
No Data